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Illustration of a human cell division process
Conjoined twins are the result of a single fertilized egg that doesn't fully separate into two individuals during early embryo development.
Photo:Adobe Stock/Anusorn

Conjoined twins

Conjoined fetuses are a rare type of identical twins that share a placenta and an amniotic sac, when the embryo divides at 13-15 days from conception. The incidence ranges from 1/50,000-1/100,000 live births. Female fetuses are more commonly affected, as the ratio of female to male is 3:1.

No association with maternal age, race, parity, or heredity has been observed, and the recurrence risk is negligible.

World Conjoined Twins Day

Recognizing that the case of conjoined twins is a rare condition where the estimated incidence can be 1 in 50,000 births, the General Assembly to proclaim 24 November as World Conjoined Twins Day.

The Assembly emphasized the need to address the condition of conjoined twins, by raising awareness of their cases at all levels and through a life-course approach, in cooperation with relevant United Nations agencies and other stakeholders, as well as by advocating for their well-being and social inclusion, while taking into account relevant agreed international standards, norms and principles.

Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all

Reaffirming the right of every human being, without distinction of any kind, to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, the United Nations is committed to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages, including by strengthening health systems and achieving universal health coverage and all other health-related targets and leaving no one behind.

There is the need to scale up efforts to build and strengthen quality, people-centred, sustainable and resilient health systems, and to promote strong global partnerships with all relevant stakeholders to collaboratively support the efforts of Member States, as appropriate, to achieve universal health coverage and other health-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this sense, the United Nations strives to strengthen regional and international cooperation, multilateralism, global solidarity, coordination and health governance, towards the progressive realization of the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health for all, without distinction of any kind.

Did you know?

  • Estimated incidence of conjoined twins can be 1 in 50,000 births.
  • The rate of stillbirth is high and is estimated to be around 60 per cent.
  • Currently, there is lack of quality, timely and reliable data in this regard.

Resources

Resolution

  • World Conjoined Twins Day ()

Websites

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